That's Roy Keane's message to Dundalk duo Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle as they consider their options following a year of progress that has catapulted them into the Ireland squad for Saturday's date in Austria.

As both players are out of contract, there is anticipation that they will be afforded the opportunity to move on over the winter with a host of Championship clubs monitoring their situation.

Keane met an array of characters representing English and Scottish sides at Sunday's FAI Cup final and knows they are being watched. But he says that the example of Richie Towell - who has failed to get going at Brighton after a year that has been interrupted by setbacks - shows that individuals have to be careful about their next move.

"People say can they step up? That the million-dollar question. You don't know," he said.

"Their mate went over there last year, Towell. I bought one or two players over the years, going back to (David) Meyler, Roy O'Donovan, Colin Healy, people like that, and sometimes there's a big gap.

"But as I said, the benefits of playing in Europe and their fitness levels will certainly help them if they go get across to England or Scotland whatever that level might be.

"I think it'll be an interesting few months for these lads. Those are the rewards they're getting for doing well in Europe.

"And obviously they have the option to stay at Dundalk because Dundalk look like a club, if they continue doing thing properly as they are doing and if they invest properly in the club the monies they're getting in Europe then who's to say they're not happy and settled there and will get the contracts they want?

"Obviously the boy Towell went over last year and he's had one or two injuries and it's not quite happened for him.

"So it's not all this fantasy that you go over to England and everything falls into place for you. Certainly not."

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